VW builds its 100,000th Atlas

October 8, 2018, 9:11 amby Drew Johnson

VW's largest SUV has reached a major milestone.

Volkswagen announced on Monday that its assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee has built its 100,000th Atlas SUV. The milestone comes about a year-and-a-half after Atlas production began in Tennessee.

Atlas No. 100,000 was a 2019 SEL Premium finished in Pacific Blue and equipped with VW's optional 3.6L VR6 engine. The automaker didn't announce where the milestone-setting SUV was heading, so it's possible the 100,000th Atlas could end up at a dealership near you.

"Our objective for the Atlas has been to assemble an SUV in America for Americans and we have been very encouraged by the success of the vehicle so far," said Antonio Pinto, CEO of Volkswagen Chattanooga. "This is just the first of many production milestones we anticipate celebrating for the Atlas, and it would not have been possible without the world-class team here in Chattanooga."

The Atlas is largely a carryover model for 2019, but VW has made a few adjustments to the line. Safety features like a blind spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert are now standard across the line. VW's Digital Cockpit, previously only available on the top spec SEL Premium, is now standard on the Atlas SEL.

Prices for the 2019 Atlas start from $30,895, excluding a $995 destination charge.